Emergency Red List of Haitian Cultural Objects at Risk

The Emergency Red List of Haitian Cultural Objects at Risk is designed to help customs officials, police officers, and heritage professionals identify the categories of objects most targeted by illicit traffic. The categories depicted are protected by legislation which prohibits their trade and exportation.

However contemporary artistic creation and artisanal crafts are not protected by laws which relate to cultural heritage; these objects and works of contemporary creation are included in the Emergency Red List because the earthquake has rendered them particularly vulnerable to looting and theft. Potential buyers of an object resembling any of those presented in the Emergency Red List, as well as customs and law enforcement agents, are advised to vigilantly check its provenance and relevant legal documentation.

The Emergency Red List of Haitian Cultural Objects at Risk is by no means exhaustive, and any object that may have originated from Haiti should be subject to careful scrutiny. The Emergency Red List does not aim, however, to discourage the legal trade in contemporary Haitian cultural goods, which is vital for the livelihood of artists and for the economic reconstruction of the country.